This month at ERC.
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Concert - Quadriga Quartet
Q-Mas with Quadriga Quartet
Quadriga Quartet sings polyphonic traditional and modern winter songs. The four singers bring a sophisticated mix of beautiful and unknown melodies with intriguing harmonies, exuberant vocal ornaments and complex interweaving of voices from countries such as Bulgaria, Corsica, Georgia, Greece and Ukraine.
Before the concert, Quadriga offers a short singing workshop for singing enthusiasts.
19:00 – short singing workshop
20:15 – concert
TICKETS : € 15 (concert) - € 20 (workshop + concert) Reservations: contact@quadrigaquartet.nl
Concert - Rootskoor
Light in Darkness - A Christmas Concert
Rootskoor, under the direction of Herbert de Jonge presents a varied Christmas program with songs from around the world.
TICKETS: €10
Reservations: rootskooramsterdam@gmail.com
Fourth Advent Sunday service
Please join us in the church for the Fourth Advent Sunday service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Liturgy sheet will follow.
Concert - Aventure
Aventure
Anventure
Christopher Kale, Irene Sorozábal - voice
Marco Magalhães, Fumitaka Saito, Ita Hijmans - recorders
Ave Domina -
Women's Christmas Music from the 15th Century
In 15th-century Holland it was mostly women who performed, preserved and passed on Christmas music, music that was both connected to a European network and typically Dutch. These were carols about Mary, the Nativity, the Cradle, and the Winter Cold, which gave voice to the imagination of these 15th-century women.
Ave Domina shows the strength and charisma of this intimate women’s Christmas music right up to the present time. With male and female voices, the vocal and instrumental music blend fluently: a sparkling 15th century Christmas experience.
Christmas music from: Manuscript Berlin 190 (Low Countries, c. 1480); Ms Nijmegen IV 84 (cloister Soeterbeeck, c. 1497-99); Ms Utrecht 16E34 (IJssel Valley, 1450-1500); Ms Koning (Holland, c.1500), carols from the international 15th century network and instrumental arrangements.
15:15 - Start of program with an introduction by Dieuwke van der Poel; 16:00 Concert begins.
The tickets include the introduction, a drink, and the concert. There is no interval during the concert.
TICKETS: €27,50 / €10 (under 30/stadspas/CJP) available at the door or via presale: klassiekemuziek.nl
Christmas Eve service
Please join us in church for the Christmas Eve service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Liturgy sheet will follow.
Christmas Day Service
Please join us in the church for the Christmas Day service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Liturgy sheet will follow.
Sunday service
Please join us in the church for a service of worship.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Liturgy sheet will follow.
Concert - Horizon Ensemble
Horizon Ensemble
return in January to the English Church for a delightful and varied program of music by Mondonville, Couperin, Handel, and Balbastre.
TICKETS: available at the door €17,50 / €5 (students)
Concert - Timber Blazersensemble
New Year’s Concert - Timber Blazersensemble
Programma
P.G. Harper - Excursion for Double Woodwind Quintet (2009)
J. Andriessen - Respiration Suite for Double Wind Quintet (1962)
G.P.S. Jacob - Old Wine in New Bottles for Double Woodwind Quintet (1959)
I.F. Stravinski - Pulcinella Suite (1965) (arr. Ray Thompson)
Timber Blazersensemble began in 1986 and has given concerts throughout the country. Their main repertoire consists of music for winds written for double quintet. This standard instrumentation is also often expanded with the addition of several strings or brass instruments.
Conductor: Ali Groen
Fluit en piccolo: Mirjam Haak, Cilian Terwindt
Hobo en althobo: Ben van der Burg, Marten Hoekstra
Klarinet: Hester Mol, Hylke de Vries
Hoorn: Francisco Pereira, Yvonne Lemmens
Fagot: Corina Ewijk, Jurgen Warmerdam
Contrabas: Egbert Kreiken
TICKETS: € 15,- /€ 10,- t/m 18 jaar
reservations: timberensemble@gmail.com
Free Lunch Concert - Titkos Saxophone Quartet
"Voices in Harmony"
“Voices in Harmony” originated from the unique bond between our alto saxophonist, Ayleen Weber, and her sister, mezzo-soprano Sarina Weber.
Join us for “Voices in Harmony”, a concert blending the power of saxophone and mezzo-soprano to bring these timeless compositions to life. Through wit, romance, and spirited rivalry, this program will captivate and inspire.
Titkos Saxofoonkwartet
Nonthapat Chaiviratnukul , soprano saxophone; Ayleen Weber, alto saxophone; Chi-Chun Chen, tenor saxophone; Bernardo Pereira, baritone saxophone
Special Guest: Sarina Weber, mezzo-soprano:
Program, selections from:
The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper) - Kurt Julian Weill (1900–1950)
Le Bestiaire ou Cortège d’Orphée - Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (1899–1963)
Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42 - Robert Alexander Schumann (1810–1856)
La Regata Venezian - Gioachino Antonio Rossini (1792–1868)
FREE entry. Collection at the door.
Concert - Ekaterina Zhemaitis; Matthias Balzat
In search of lost time
Matthias Balzat (cello) and Ekaterina Zhemaitis (piano)
Three non-romantic composers look back at the elusive past: Rachmaninov admires it in his expressive manner. Shchedrin looks painfully at the nineteenth century as at a long-lost childhood. Prokofiev, as if trying to isolate himself from the fearful reality, turns to his youth full of light, humor and love.
Three views on the romantic age - the age of youth, beauty and sincerity - from composers of the eras of neo-romanticism, modernism and postmodernism.
Program:
Prokofiev Sonata for cello and piano in C major, op.119
Shchedrin Belcanto in the russian mode for cello and piano
Rachmaninov Sonata for cello and piano in g minor, op. 19
New Zealand-born cellist Matthias Balzat (1999) has gained recognition as an international soloist and chamber musician. He has won prestigious competitions, including the Accordi Musicali International Cello Competition, 69th ROSL Annual Music Competition, SieghardtRometsch Concerto Competition, and New Zealand National Concerto Competition (2014, 2017). He has performed with leading orchestras such as the NZSO, CSO, Sinfonietta Köln, and St. Matthews Chamber Orchestra, and collaborated with conductors including Guy Noble, Benjamin Northey, and Rüdiger Bohn.
Balzat has appeared at major festivals like Aspen Music Festival, Classiche Forme, and Edinburgh Fringe. He has worked with renowned musicians, including Daniel Müller-Schott, Johannes Moser, and Wolfgang Schmidt. Currently completing the prestigious Konzertexamen at Robert Schumann Hochschule under Pieter Wispelwey, he holds a Master's from the same institution and a Bachelor’s from Waikato University, which he began at the age of 14.
Ekaterina Zhemaitis was born in 1989 in Moscow, Russia. She started playing piano under the guidance of her mother - wonderful pianist Anna Manasarova. In 2009 Ekaterina completed her bachelor degree with Tatiana Direktorenko at the Academic Music College in Moscow. In 2014 graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she studied piano with Elena Kuznetsova, and chamber music with Aleksander Bonduriansky. In 2016 completed her postgraduate studies. Afterwards Ekaterina continued her studies with Evgeniy Sinaisky at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany.
Ekaterina has won prestigious competitions including The Fifth International Chamber Music Competition named after S. Taneev (Kaluga, Russia), The VI International Piano Duo Competition (Poland, Bialystok), The Internarional Piano Competition 'Citta di Moncalieri' (Moncalieri, Italy), The XVIII International Academic Music Competition in Jūrmala (Jūrmala, Latvia). From 2016 to 2022, Ekaterina taught piano at the Chopin College in Moscow. She was also the organizer and artistic director of the piano music festival ‘Jeux d’Enfants’. Ekaterina has collaborated with such recognized musicians as Liza Ferschtman, Ivan Karizna, Oxana Schevchenko, Matthias Balzat and Maryana Osipova.
TICKETS: €25 / €15 children Available at the door.
Information on advanced reservations will be made available later.
Concert - Trio Emerant
Hommage à Bach
Trio Emerant
Klarinettist Emirhan Tuğa, pianist Ere Lievonen en cellist Antonis Pratsinakis present their new CD ‘Hommage à Bach’, works by J. S. Bach.
A surprising program around J.S. Bach and works by composers he inspired, including F. Poulenc, B. Kovacs, C.P.H. Bach, A. Pratsinakis and H. Villa-Lobos. A fascinating, varied, and accessible program full of musical surprises.
Programma:
J.S. Bach - Trio Sonata Nr. 1 BWV 525
J.S. Bach - Die Kunst der Fuge, Contrapunctus 1, BWV 1080
J.S. Bach - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140
F. Poulenc - Hommage à J.S. Bach FP 62, No:3
B. Kovács - Hommage à J.S. Bach
A. Pratsinakis - Guter Letzt
C.P.E. Bach - 3 Sonatas H. 516, 517, 518
H. Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, W. 389
J.S. Bach - Trio Sonata Nr. 2 BWV 526
TICKETS: €18 (Student/CJP €10) Via: https://eventix.shop/q6v3qwcm
Carolling on the Spui
🎶 Carolling on the Spui
Come join us on the Spui where we will sing Christmas carols together, led by our Music Director, Richard Zook.
Immediately after the morning service on Sunday, 15 December.
Third Advent Sunday service
Please join us in the church for the Third Advent Sunday service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Concert - Slavuj
Kleuren van de ziel’ - ‘Colors of the Soul’
Slavuj presents a concert of songs from the Balkans and countries around the Black Sea.
Ivo Boswijk, conductor
TICKETS: €18 / €13 CJP and under 12 Reservations via: www.slavuj.nl or with the QR
If the concert is not already sold out, tickets will be available at the door. PIN payments are possible.
Concert - Grandstand Classic Koor
Grandstand Project Choir
Under the direction of Adriaen van der Veen we will perform classical polyphonic choir works. The main work of this concert is the Magnificat by Antonio Vivaldi. We will also sing works by Buxtehude and J.S. Bach. Traditionally we will conclude with well-known and lesser-known Christmas carols from all over the world.
TICKETS: €15 at the door or via: Grandstand
Cooking at the Kloof
With a small group of volunteers we will be cooking lunch for 45-80 homeless people in the city centre of Amsterdam.
Would you like to take part in this creative, culinary experience and get to know, or catch up with, other volunteers?
Please send an e-mail to Giles Francis at gilesf@telfort.nl for more information.
Carols by Candlelight
Please join us in the church for a
Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
A Brief History of the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
While traditional Christmas carols are now commonly sung during services of worship throughout the world, until the latter part of the 19th century they were considered to be secular and were sung in the home or by groups of singers visiting people's houses. In the mid-1870's this began to change as more and more churches introduced traditional carols into their Advent and Christmas services. Referring to Truro Cathedral, the Royal Cornwall Gazette of 20 December, 1878 reported:
"The Choir of the Cathedral will sing a number of carols in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, the service commencing at 10pm. We understand that this is at the wish of many of the leading parishioners and others. A like service has been instituted in other cathedral and large towns, and has been much appreciated. It is the intention of the choir to no longer continue the custom of singing carols at the residences of members of the congregation."
Two years later, on Christmas Eve, 1880, the Bishop of Truro, the Right Rev. Edward White Benson, led the first Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The idea of interspersing Christmas music with the Bible readings of the Christmas story came from one of Benson's colleagues at the cathedral, the Rev. George Walpole. Benson became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1883 and the service continued to gain in popularity, first across Britain and then around the world.
The service we know today is very much linked to King's College, Cambridge, where the chapel choir first sang it on Christmas Eve, 1918. It has continued this tradition every year since then, gaining even more listeners through the radio broadcast of the service, which started in 1928 and has continued every year (with the exception of 1930.)
While originating in the Anglican Church, the service was quickly adopted in Roman Catholic and other churches throughout the UK, and then the rest of the world. Here at the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam we enjoy the opportunity to include traditional carols and compositions from many different countries. While we conduct the service in English, it is interesting to note that at one school in Quebec, Canada, the nine lessons are read in nine different languages or dialects! Perhaps something to consider for future years here...
Women's Fellowship
Please join us for our Women’s Fellowship. We have a potluck dinner together, a devotional and a time of sharing and prayer.
For details, contact Peggy Krol: peggy.krol@erc.amsterdam.
Concert - Slavuj
‘Kleuren van de ziel’ - ‘Colors of the Soul’
Slavuj presents a concert of songs from the Balkans and countries around the Black Sea.
Ivo Boswijk, conductor
TICKETS: €18 / €13 CJP and under 12 Reservations via: www.slavuj.nl or with the QR
If the concert is not already sold out, tickets will be available at the door. PIN payments are possible.
Second Advent Sunday service
Please join us in the church for the Second Advent Sunday service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Coffee Morning
Come and enjoy coffee together. If you are interested to come, please contact Sies Plokker.
You can also send a message to info@erc.amsterdam.
Presbytery Advent Bible Study
Join Us for a Journey Through the Christmas Story
This is the last session of a three-week Presbytery Advent Bible study, which will take place via Zoom.
During this study, we will delve into the Christmas story through the perspectives of Luke and Matthew. Our discussions will explore not only the nativity narrative but also the events that unfolded after the initial excitement of Jesus' birth had subsided.
The study will be guided by: Christine Colliar, Sia Van Den Bremt, and David Lloyd.
To participate, please send an email to David Lloyd at dlloyd@churchofscotland.org.uk.
Concert - AUK Kamerkoor
AUK Kamerkoor
Alfrun Schmid, conductor
A program of early English choral music by Byrd, Gibbons, Morley, Purcell.
William Shakespeare, perhaps the most brilliant playwright of all time, was known for alternating poetic outpourings and psychological insights with downright vulgar jokes and pranks in his plays. The first two have proven to be timeless; the ambiguities of the latter nowadays usually have to be explained. These two aspects also characterize that other English genius, Henry Purcell. We sing his dignified, deeply felt works about faith and mortality as well as a series of scandalous canons in which all sorts of lesser bodily functions are discussed. In addition, this program consists of a variety of works by sixteenth and seventeenth century compatriots of Shakespeare and Purcell. Is there a better location for this than the English Church?
TICKETS: €15 at the door or via Ticketkantoor
20s & 30s Lunch
Every first Sunday of the month the 20s & 30s group from the church meet at Calf & Bloom for lunch and fellowship after the service (around noon).
Anyone is welcome to join! For questions, get in touch with Elisabeth: elisabeth.ijmker@erc.amsterdam
First Advent Sunday service
Please join us in the church for the First Advent Sunday service.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Concert - AUK Kamerkoor
AUK Kamerkoor
Alfrun Schmid, conductor
A program of early English choral music by Byrd, Gibbons, Morley, Purcell.
William Shakespeare, perhaps the most brilliant playwright of all time, was known for alternating poetic outpourings and psychological insights with downright vulgar jokes and pranks in his plays. The first two have proven to be timeless; the ambiguities of the latter nowadays usually have to be explained. These two aspects also characterize that other English genius, Henry Purcell. We sing his dignified, deeply felt works about faith and mortality as well as a series of scandalous canons in which all sorts of lesser bodily functions are discussed. In addition, this program consists of a variety of works by sixteenth and seventeenth century compatriots of Shakespeare and Purcell. Is there a better location for this than the English Church?
TICKETS: €15 at the door or via Ticketkantoor
Workshop - Aventure
Aventure
Christopher Kale, Irene Sorozábal - voice
Marco Magalhães, Fumitaka Saito, Ita Hijmans - recorders
Workshop - Sing-& Play-in
Women's Christmas Music from the 15th Century
In 15th-century Holland, it was mostly women who performed, preserved and passed on Christmas music. Music that was connected to a European network and typically Dutch carols about Mary, the Nativity, the Cradle and the Winter Cold, which gave voice to the imagination of these 15th-century women.
Intimate lyrics about cradling, nurturing and cherishing the Christmas baby; loving fantasy about the accommodation and entourage: the Christmas music of these women sounds like a pure, tangible and appealing Christmas story in the 15th-century church of the Amsterdam Begijnhof.
The Sing-& Play-in is designed to introduce you to this 15th-century repertoire, an afternoon of wonderful singing or playing from the distant legacy of 15th-century women.
Under the direction of Aventure: Marco Magalhães (Play-in); Ita Hijmans (Sing-in)Zing & Speel-in
Time 14:00 – 17:00 uur
Costs €35 (incl. A drink and sheet music)
Information & Application aventure.ensemble@gmail.com www.aventure-ensemble.nl/agenda
Service of Introduction: Rev Marius Louw
The official induction, which marks the official start of Rev Marius Louw as minister of the English Reformed Church. All are welcome to join this special service, in which we also say farewell to Rev Jimmy Brown as our interim moderator.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Women's Fellowship
Please join us for our Women’s Fellowship. We have a potluck dinner together, a devotional and a time of sharing and prayer.
For details, contact Peggy Krol: peggy.krol@erc.amsterdam.
Presbytery Advent Bible Study
Join Us for a Journey Through the Christmas Story
This is the second session of a three-week Presbytery Advent Bible study, which will take place via Zoom. The last bible study is scheduled on the evening of 2 December.
During this study, we will delve into the Christmas story through the perspectives of Luke and Matthew. Our discussions will explore not only the nativity narrative but also the events that unfolded after the initial excitement of Jesus' birth had subsided.
The study will be guided by: Christine Colliar, Sia Van Den Bremt, and David Lloyd.
To participate, please send an email to David Lloyd at dlloyd@churchofscotland.org.uk.
Concert - Plantagekoor
The Plantagekoor
Bert ‘t Hart, conductor
Wibren Jonkers, organ
returns to the English Church with a concert of music by Monteverdi and Sweelinck for choir and organ.
TICKETS: €18 in advance/€20 at the door. For advance sales: www.plantagekoor.nl
Worship Service
Please join us in the church for a service of worship.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Taizé service
We hold our Taizé service each month together with our friends from the Roman Catholic Chapel.
The Taizé service is a short meditative service, inspired by and with music from the Taizé community. It will be followed by some time for fellowship and refreshments.
The service will be held in the English Reformed Church.
Presbytery Advent Bible Study
Join Us for a Journey Through the Christmas Story
We are excited to announce a three-week Presbytery Advent Bible study, which will take place via Zoom. These sessions are scheduled from 19:30 to 20:30 on the evenings of 18 and 25 November, and 2 December.
During this study, we will delve into the Christmas story through the perspectives of Luke and Matthew. Our discussions will explore not only the nativity narrative but also the events that unfolded after the initial excitement of Jesus' birth had subsided.
The study will be guided by: Christine Colliar, Sia Van Den Bremt, and David Lloyd.
To participate, please send an email to David Lloyd at dlloyd@churchofscotland.org.uk.
Worship Service
Please join us in the church for a service of worship.
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Concert - Kamerkoor Amsterdam
When We Were Children
We are a new choir in Amsterdam! For singers who once started with student choirs, and are looking for the next step.
In this very first project we look back together on the past: our childhood, youth, and other things we have left behind. Think for example of a former choir, a beautiful friendship or perhaps a parental home. This can make you feel nostalgic, but it can also be a reason for us together to raise a toast to the present and the future.
Fokko Oldenhuis, conductor
With music by Lang, Gjeilo, Kreek, Pärt and Rutter
TICKETS: €15 / €8 discount at the door or via: https://digitalekaartverkoop.nl/evenement/when-we-were-children/
Women's Fellowship
Please join us for our Women’s Fellowship. We have a potluck dinner together, a devotional and a time of sharing and prayer.
For details, contact Peggy Krol: peggy.krol@erc.amsterdam.
Concert - Iber Trio
IberTrio “Do Atlântico ao Mediterrâneo”
“From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean”
The IberTrio is a classical trio composed of:
Nuno Meira - violin
Américo Martins - cello
Isolda Crespi Rubio - piano
IBERTRIO won the Annual Diamond Prize and the Annual Grand Champion for chamber music at the European Classical Music Awards.
More information and tickets:
https://www.q-art.nl/events/q-festival-2024-10-nov-ibertrio-do-atlantico-ao-mediterraneo/
Worship Service
Please join us in the church for a:
For those wishing to join the service online, you can follow the live stream here.
Cooking at the Kloof
With a small group of volunteers we will be cooking lunch for 45-80 homeless people in the city centre of Amsterdam.
Would you like to take part in this creative, culinary experience and get to know, or catch up with, other volunteers?
Please send an e-mail to Giles Francis at gilesf@telfort.nl for more information.
Bible Study
All are very welcome to join our ERC Bible study, led by our locum, Rev John Bell.
For details visit our ‘Get Involved’ page (Bible study) and contact Peggy to receive the relevant materials and link to participate.
This will be a hybrid bible study, you can join at the Manse or via zoom.